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The Atlantic Coast Conference has released its 2026 All-ACC Tournament teams, and Florida State men's basketball earned double recognition. Robert McCray V was named to the All-ACC Tournament First Team, while Senior guard Lajae Jones earned Second Team honors — the first time Florida State has placed two players on the All-ACC Tournament team since the 2020-21 season.
The Seminoles made their mark on the tournament despite ultimately falling just short of the final four, going 1-1 in Charlotte with a first-round victory before a heartbreaking quarterfinal exit.
The eighth-seeded Seminoles entered the ACC Tournament with an 18-14 record and a four-game winning streak. They continued that momentum, defeating ninth-seeded California 95-89 in the second round before advancing to face top-seeded Duke in the quarterfinals.
Against Duke, Florida State nearly pulled off one of the tournament's great upsets, clawing back from an eight-point deficit late in the second half to trail just 80-79 with 37 seconds remaining. McCray's buzzer-beating three-point attempt fell just short as time expired. The Seminoles exited with their heads held high and two players recognized by the conference for their exceptional performances.
McCray becomes just the sixth player in Florida State history to earn All-ACC Tournament First Team recognition. He was also a third-team All-ACC selection for his regular-season performance.
The senior point guard was the unquestioned engine of FSU's tournament run. He averaged 27.5 points, 6.0 assists, and 5.0 rebounds across two games while shooting 55.6 percent from the field and 40.0 percent from three. His 30-point outburst against Cal made him just the third Seminole in school history to score 30 points in an ACC Tournament game.
Against Duke, the standout senior finished with 25 points and four assists, surpassing 200 assists on the season to become just the fifth Seminole in program history to reach that milestone.
While McCray carried the offensive load against Cal, Jones stepped up when it mattered most against the nation's top team. The senior guard scored a game-high 28 points against Duke, going eight of eight from the free-throw line and drilling four three-pointers. He scored 17 of his points in the second half as Florida State mounted its comeback.
Jones averaged 21.5 points and 4.5 rebounds across the two tournament games while shooting an eye-popping nine of ten from three-point range in what were his first two career ACC Tournament appearances. His performance against Duke was especially impressive in the clutch. With FSU trailing 75-70 with four minutes remaining, Jones scored five consecutive points to ignite the Seminoles' final comeback push.
The dual honors reflect just how far Florida State has come down the stretch of this season. The Seminoles ranked second in the ACC in three-pointers made per game and led the conference in turnovers forced per game, a style of play that translated directly into their tournament success.
For McCray and Jones, the recognition caps a decorated final season in Tallahassee. Whether the season ends on Selection Sunday or extends into late March with an NIT run, one thing is certain: this backcourt duo gave Florida State basketball something it desperately needed heading into the Luke Loucks era. A reason to believe, and that, regardless of what postseason stage comes next, is a legacy worth celebrating.
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This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: Robert McCray V, Lajae Jones named to All-ACC Tournament teams
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The Seminoles made their mark on the tournament despite ultimately falling just short of the final four, going 1-1 in Charlotte with a first-round victory before a heartbreaking quarterfinal exit.
Florida State's Tournament Run
The eighth-seeded Seminoles entered the ACC Tournament with an 18-14 record and a four-game winning streak. They continued that momentum, defeating ninth-seeded California 95-89 in the second round before advancing to face top-seeded Duke in the quarterfinals.
Against Duke, Florida State nearly pulled off one of the tournament's great upsets, clawing back from an eight-point deficit late in the second half to trail just 80-79 with 37 seconds remaining. McCray's buzzer-beating three-point attempt fell just short as time expired. The Seminoles exited with their heads held high and two players recognized by the conference for their exceptional performances.
Robert McCray V — All-ACC Tournament First Team
McCray becomes just the sixth player in Florida State history to earn All-ACC Tournament First Team recognition. He was also a third-team All-ACC selection for his regular-season performance.
The senior point guard was the unquestioned engine of FSU's tournament run. He averaged 27.5 points, 6.0 assists, and 5.0 rebounds across two games while shooting 55.6 percent from the field and 40.0 percent from three. His 30-point outburst against Cal made him just the third Seminole in school history to score 30 points in an ACC Tournament game.
Against Duke, the standout senior finished with 25 points and four assists, surpassing 200 assists on the season to become just the fifth Seminole in program history to reach that milestone.
Lajae Jones — All-ACC Tournament Second Team
While McCray carried the offensive load against Cal, Jones stepped up when it mattered most against the nation's top team. The senior guard scored a game-high 28 points against Duke, going eight of eight from the free-throw line and drilling four three-pointers. He scored 17 of his points in the second half as Florida State mounted its comeback.
Jones averaged 21.5 points and 4.5 rebounds across the two tournament games while shooting an eye-popping nine of ten from three-point range in what were his first two career ACC Tournament appearances. His performance against Duke was especially impressive in the clutch. With FSU trailing 75-70 with four minutes remaining, Jones scored five consecutive points to ignite the Seminoles' final comeback push.
Big Picture
The dual honors reflect just how far Florida State has come down the stretch of this season. The Seminoles ranked second in the ACC in three-pointers made per game and led the conference in turnovers forced per game, a style of play that translated directly into their tournament success.
For McCray and Jones, the recognition caps a decorated final season in Tallahassee. Whether the season ends on Selection Sunday or extends into late March with an NIT run, one thing is certain: this backcourt duo gave Florida State basketball something it desperately needed heading into the Luke Loucks era. A reason to believe, and that, regardless of what postseason stage comes next, is a legacy worth celebrating.
Contact/Follow us @FSUWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of FSU news, notes, and opinions.
This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: Robert McCray V, Lajae Jones named to All-ACC Tournament teams
Continue reading...
